Dispenser valve structure



July 18, 1961 J. M. TURK DISPENSER VALVE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 29, 1958 INVENTOR. Jerome M. Turk BY W ATTorneq 2,992,760 DISPENSER VALVE STRUCTURE Jerome M. Turk, Skokie, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Super Whip Valve Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 770,379 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) This invention relates to a dispenser valve structure for use in connection with containers dispensing liquids under pressure.

This invention is an improvement of the structure shown in my Patent No. 2,892,575, issued June 30, 1959.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved stem unit whereby the initial insertion of the stem unit into the nozzle is facilitated.

Another object of this invention is to provide an integrally formed improved stem and valve which has means for centering the stem with respect to the resilient plug and which is provided with a slot formed in the head of the stem so that the head of the stem is compressed as it passes the shoulder in the nozzle when the stem is initially inserted, and thereafter assumes its normal position to automatically lock said nozzle with respect to said stern.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved structure which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to assemble.

The structure described in my aforementioned application is characterized by an integrally formed stem unit which has a valve at the lower end and a preformed shaped head at the upper end thereof so that when the stem is inserted through the bottom or inner side of the resilient plug and passes the shoulder of the nozzle it is in locked position with respect to the nozzle so that the nozzle is irremovable with respect to the stem unit. The foregoing structure reduces the cost of assembly in that the stem unit is in its final completed form before it is inserted into the nozzle and nothing has to be done to the head of the stem after it is thus inserted. In this respect it is different from the prior art constructions in which after the stem is inserted in the nozzle a separate operation is required to form a head in the stem to thereby effect the locking engagement with the nozzle.

This invention improves the stem structure described in my copending application by furtherfacilitating the initial assembly of the stern in relation to the nozzle and thereby reducing the cost of assembling the unit.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of this invention showing the valve seated.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the valve unseated to permit discharge of the fluid under pressure.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view partly in section taken on lines 33 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the improved stem and valve member.

The numeral designates the can or container formed of metal or some suitable material which will withstand the pressure and which contains the liquid to be dispensed. The container 10 has an upper end 12 provided with a rolled over edge 14. A closure 16 for the can has a peripheral edge 18 rolled about the rolled over edge 14 to secure same thereto. A resilient gasket 20 of rubber or the like is secured between the rolled over edges 14 and 18 to provide a tight seal therebetween to prevent leakage.

The closure 16 has a central opening 22 encompassed by an upstanding annular rim 24. Secured to the closure 16 is a plug or body generally indicated at 26 which is formed of resilient material such as rubber or the like having a central upper passage or bore 28 which is enlarged as at 30 at the lower or inner end thereof. The plug 26 extends through the opening 22 of the closure 16 and is enlarged at the lower end thereof to provide a flange 32 which rests against the inside of the closure 16. The bottom surface 34 of the enlargement or flange 32 forms the valve seat, as will be subsequently described. The outer surface of the plug has an annular shoulder 36 which seats against the annular rim 24 to securely lock the plug to the container.

The valve stem unit which is generally indicated at 33 includes a stem, a spearhead at the upper end thereof and a valve at the lower end thereof. The valve stem unit has an elongated circular stem 40 provided with a preformed head 42 of generally spear shape construction. The head has tapered sides 44 with lower horizontal portions 46 which form the preformed engaging portions of the head for engaging the shoulder of the nozzle to be described. The point end 48 of the head is slightly rounded. The other sides 50 of the head extend vertically and are flat, as best shown in FIGURE 4, and the distance between the sides 50 is less than the diameter of the stem to provide clearance for passage of the material from the container. The lower or inner end of the stem 40 has an annular disc 54 which forms the valve and said disc has a flat outer annular portion 56 and a slightly raised inner annular portion 58.

Extending upwardly of the inner annular portion and connected to the stem are a plurality of inclined ribs 60 which provide added strength for the stern and also provide centering means for the stern and valve member. When the valve 54 is seated as shown in :FIGURE 1, the outer annular portion 56 is in close contact with the bottom surface 34 of the plug 26.

The stem 40 is provided with a vertical slot 62 which extends into the spearhead 42 to permit a slight compression of the spearhead 42 when the stem is initially inserted through the plug 26 from the bottom or inner side of the plug, and more particularly a slight compression of the spearhead 42 as it passes the shoulder of the nozzle. The entire valve stem structure shown in FIG- URE 4, which comprises the stem, spearhead and valve is integrally molded of a high impact polystyrene material.

A tubular nozzle generally indicated at 64, formed of rigid plastic material encompasses and envelops the portion of plug 26 above the annular shoulder 36 and rests on said shoulder. The nozzle 64 tapers upwardly and is provided with an inside annular or circumferential shoulder 66 spaced above the top of the plug 26. The under surface of the shoulder 66 is beveled as at 67. The top of the annular shoulder 66 is engaged by the lower edges 46 of the spearhead 42, as best seen in FIGURES l and 2, whereby the nozzle 64 is locked to the stem unit 38 against removal therefrom. The upper end of the nozzle is provided with radially spaced slots 68 through which the fluid is dispensed.

In initially assembling the structure, the plug 26 is secured to closure 16. The stem unit 38 is then inserted into the plug through the bottom or inner side of the plug and simultaneously the nozzle 64 is positioned over the top of the plug 26. The lower end of the spearhead 42 adjacent the engaging surfaces 46 is normally larger than the inside diameter of the nozzle defined by shoulder 66, and hence the spearhead 42 would have difiiculty passing the shoulder were it not for the beveled under surface 67 of the shoulder 66, the inclined side surfaces 44 of the spearhead, and the slot 62 in the spearhead. Due to the slot 62, the spearhead is compressed sufliciently as it moves upwardly past the shoulder 66 so that the widest part of the spearhead is urged inwardly to allow the spearhead to move upwardly-past the shoulder 66. After the Spearhead Passes above e sho de re thesnearhead 42 assumes its normal position and the lower engaging ends 46 of the spearhead extend beyond the inner circumference of the shoulder 66 to automatically lock the nozzle 64 to the stem unit 38 against removal. There is thus provided a very simple and inexpensive structure which may be readily assembled in a fraction of the time necessary with prior art structures.

This structure also enables the valve to be preloaded, that is, in normal position, as shown in FIGURE 1, the ,valve54 is tightly sealed against the valve seat 34 to prevent passage of the fluid which is maintained under pressure within the container from passing outwardly through the nozzle. However, by a slight tilting of the nozzle 64, the stem unit 38 and the valve 54 assumes the position shown in FIGURE 2 which partially unseats the valve and allows the fluid under pressure to pass from the con tainer through the plug 26 and through the upper end of the nozzle to be discharged.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a container closure having an opening itherethrough, a resilient tubular plug extending through said opening and having a flange engaging the inner surface of said closure, said plug being provided with a flat planar valve seat on said flange, a substan tially rigid valve stem of lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the passage of said tubular plug, said stem being provided at its inner end with a valve, said valve comprising an annular disc having a fiat outer annular portion for engagement with the flat planar valve seat, said stem being provided on its outer end with a preformed spearhead comprising preformed engaging surfaces extending laterally of said stem and then extending upwardly and converging inwardly towards the axis of the stem, a slot formed in said spearhead, a separate nozzle insertable over and positioned on said tubular plug and having an annular shoulder adapted to be engaged by said engaging surfaces to provide a locking engagement with said nozzle and to prevent removal of said nozzle from said tubular plug, said slot in said spearhead permitting said spearhead to be compressed as said spearhead is inserted through the inner side of said tubular plug to permit said spearhead and engaging surfaces to pass beyond said shoulder and after passage to elfect an automatic locking engagement with said shoulder, and a plurality of ribs extending from the top of the valve to the valve stem and being inclined inwardly toward the valve stem and terminating substantially below the upper end of said valve stem, said ribs serving to center said valve stem with respect to said plug.

'2. In combination with a container closure having an opening therethrough, a resilient tubular plug extending through said opening and having a flange engaging the inner surface of said closure, said plug being provided with a valve seat on its inner side, a substantially rigid valve stem of lesser diameter than the internal diameter of the passage of said tubular plug, said valve stem being provided at its inner end with a valve head adapted to engage-said-seat andbeing provided on its outer end with a ra etqrmed spearhea eemnrisin pr form d e a in surfaces extending laterally of said stern and then extending upwardly and converging inwardly towards the axis of the stem, a vertically extending slot in said spearhead with a portion of said slot extending into the valve stem adjacent said spearhead, so as to permit compression of said spearhead, a separate nozzle insertable over and positioned on said tubular plug and having an inner annular shoulder adapted to be engaged by said engaging surfaces of said spearhead to provide a locking engagement with said nozzle and to prevent removal of said nozzle from said plug, said spearhead adapted to be compressed as said spearhead is inserted through the inner side of said tubular plug to permit said spearhead and engaging surfaces to pass beyond said shoulder and after passage to effect an automatic locking engagement with said shoulder.

3. In combination with a container closure having an opening therethrough, a resilient tubular plug extending through said opening and having a flange engaging the inner surface of said closure, said plug being provided with a valve seat on its inner side, a rigid valve stem of lesser diameter than the internal diameter of said tubular plug, said valve stem being integrally formed of a plastic material and being provided at its inner end with a valve head adapted to engage said seat and being provided on its outer end with a preformed spearhead comprising preformed engaging surfaces extending laterally of said stem and then extending upwardly and converging inwardly towards the axis of the stem, said spearhead having a slot therein permitting compression of said spearhead, a separate nozzle positioned on said tubular plug, said nozzle having an inner shoulder adapted to be engaged by said engaging surfaces, said spearhead adapted to be compressed assaid spearhead is inserted through the inner side of said tubular plug to permit said spearhead and engaging surfaces to pass beyond said shoulder and after passage to eifect an automatic locking engagement with said shoulder.

4. In a structure defined in claim 3 wherein said stern has means for centering said stem with respect to said plug, said means extending from said valve head upwardly to said valve stem and terminating substantially below the upper end of said stem.

5. In a structure defined in claim 3 wherein said stem has a plurality of spaced inclined ribs for centering said stem with respect to said plug, said ribs extending from the top of the valve head to the valve stem and being inclined inwardly toward the valve stem and terminating substantially below the upper end of said stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,179,032 Carley et al. Nov. 7, 1939 2,487,434 Geiss et a1. Nov. 8, 1949 2,585,438 Clingman Feb. 12, 1952 2,612,293 Michel Sept. 30, 1952 2,772,035 Collins et a1. Nov. 27, 1956 2,839,225 Sofier et al June 17, 1958 2,869,764 Collins Jan. 20, 1959 

